eMarketing, simply defined, is marketing your business online. It is an extremely effective marketing medium for SMEs and may just be the best friend you cannot afford to ignore. eMarketing can be your most cost-effective promotional tool, providing the best return on investment across your marketing activities and produces the most targeted campaigns. Results are easy to track and the data is often immediately available to analyse and then utilise to optimise your business’ marketing activities. When 87% of Australian businesses and 72% of Australian homes have internet access and 58% of all Australians use the internet every day, numbers that are only increasing year on year, SMEs cannot afford to ignore eMarketing as part of their marketing strategies.*
eMarketing encompasses a huge variety of online activities you can participate in – it includes your website but also all other online activities that generate leads, convert customers, and encourage more interaction and/or increased spending of your customers, more often. eMarketing methods can comprise of:
· e-newsletters
· email campaigns
· SEO (Search Engine Optimisation,
· online advertising
· pay per click advertising
· building online brand awareness
· social networking
· blogs
· online magazines (ezines)
· CRMs (Customer Relationship Management software)
· Google analytics
· ecommerce
· online public relations
· online directories
· and online affiliates
This isn’t even an exhausted list.
eMarketing puts your business potentially into the hands of every Australian online who may be interested in what you offer (or overseas customers depending on where you target your campaigns) and allows the SME to compete with much bigger players in the Australian and global marketplace. Most importantly, eMarketing should be considered the SMEs best friend as it has the potential to provide the best return on investment for your marketing activities, generate immediate exposure and can help you plan structured, immediate and, often, significant growth.
Targeted: eMarketing activities can be targeted to attract the correct types of customers, for example, use of specific keywords in your Adwords campaign, or email campaigns to certain segments of your database. You are able to avoid wasting time and money communicating with people who are not interested in your message.
Measurable: The nature of online activities means interaction can be tracked, often in minute detail. You can find out who is viewing what and when, how they found you, where they come from etc; all at the touch of your fingertips. The data is also available immediately so ineffective and wasteful activities can cease and resources poured into effective activities. You can easily test and refine your online eMarketing activities and determine the Return on Investment (ROI) of any campaign.
Cost-effective: Generally, eMarketing activities and processes are cheaper alternatives to traditional marketing mediums, for example, offline promotional options such as print advertising. Regardless of the initial cost of these activities though, the nature of eMarketing, being targeted and measurable, means it is the most cost-effective medium to grow your business.
When most businesses with 200 or more employees have a web presence (96%), and only a quarter (27%) of businesses with 0-4 employees have a web presence it only becomes more urgent to establish a web presence.*Imagine the competitive edge you can gain simply by having a web presence and envision the advantage you would have over your competitors if you developed a sophisticated eMarketing campaign.
eMarketing is the SMEs best friend and will help grow your business – just don’t ignore your new best friend and take the time to plan, review and analyse to maximise your eMarketing efforts.
*According to the Australian 2009-10 Yearbook provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Article from articlesbase.com
Find More Emarketing Articles